A Health Issue - WCHD · Radon Action Level The USEPA set an action level for indoor radon concentration of 4.0 picocuries of radon per liter of air (pCi/L). USEPA selected 4.0 pCi/L

Radon

A Health Issue

IEMA

What is Radon?

Radon is an indoor air pollutant.

Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that comes from naturally occurring uranium in the soil.

The only way to tell how much radon a home has is to TEST.

IEMA

Surgeon General’s Warning

“Indoor radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and breathing it over prolonged periods can present a significant health risk to families all over the country.”

Non-smokers it is the leading cause of Lung cancers,

IEMA

Did You Know?

More Americans die each year from lung cancer than from breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers combined.

IEMA

Lung Cancer Mortality Rates

Estimated Mortality of Lung Cancer in 2009"2009 Facts & Figures" - American Cancer Society

27,36040,61049,920

159,390

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

160,000

180,000

Lung Colon/Rectal Breast Prostate

IEMA

Radon Risk Estimates

USEPA’s 2003 Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes estimates radon causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the USEPA estimate that as many as 1,160 Illinois citizens are at risk of developing radon related lung cancer each year.

IEMA

Test!

The only way to know the radon level in a building is to test.

Basement, crawl space, slab on grade or foundation combinations can have a radon problem.

IEMA

Sources of Radiation Exposure to US public 2009

Radon - 37%Medical X-Rays - 12%

Other - 1%

Internal - 5%

Nuclear Medicine – 12%

Consumer Products - 2%

Terrestrial - 3%Cosmic - 5%

Average Exposure 620 mrem

Assumes average indoor radon concentration of 1.3 pCi/L.

Radon is by far the greatest single source of radiation exposure to the general public.CAT Scans - 24%

Source: National Council on Radiation Protection (NCRP Report 160)

IEMA

Radon Risk in Perspective

Comparative Risk Assessments by EPA and its Science Advisory Board have consistently ranked Radon among the top four Environmental risks to the Public

In 1998 Harvard Risk in Perspective, by John Graham, ranked Radon the #1 risk in the Home

IEMA

Did You Know? Top five causes of accidental home injury

deaths:

– Falls– Poisoning– Fires– Choking– Drowning

Deaths due to radon induced lung cancer is greater than all of these

IEMA

8001,000

21,000

15,800

4,8003,300

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

Radon Falls Poisoning Fires Choking Drowning

Home Safety Council Risks

Smokers vs Non Smokers

1,000 people exposed to radon 4 pCi/L

62 Smokers vs 7 Non smokers

IEMA

The History of Radon

In the beginning radon was an “unknown” lung disease in miners in the 1400’s

Identified in 1879 in autopsies of European miners as lung cancer (Lymphosarcoma).

Excess lung cancer deaths observed in uranium miners in U.S., Czechoslovakia, France and Canada.

Excess lung cancer deaths in other underground miners in Newfoundland, Sweden, Britain, France, Australia, China, and U.S. 13

IEMA

Who Discovered Radon?

Fredrich Ernst Dorn, a German chemist and physicist discovered radon in 1898, or 1900 (sources vary on the year). Dorn termed radon, “radium emanation”. He discovered radon while studying radium’s decay chain

IEMA

Current Name

Radon has been known by its current name since 1923.

It was named after the element radium. The suffix “on” was used as with all other inert gases.

IEMA

Indoor Radon Became an Issue in 1984

Stanley Watrus measured 2700 picocuries of radon per liter (pCi/L) of air in his Pennsylvania home.

IEMA

The Story

Mr. Watrus set off alarms at the Limmerick Nuclear Power Plant when entering. The plant had alarms to detect radiation, but no radioactive material was yet onsite. The radiation came from radon in his home and clung to his clothing.

The Watrus case brought the indoor radon problem to the public attention and that of the USEPA.

IEMA

Radioactivity and Radiation

Radioactivity - Unstable atoms releasing excess energy

Ionizing Radiation - energy or particles that make ion pairs during interactions with body cells

IEMA

Types of Ionizing Radiation

Alpha particles Beta particles Gamma photons X-ray photons Neutrons

IEMA

Alpha Particles Are Strong Enough To Pit Plastic

Plastic chip from passive radon test (alpha track).

Magnified only 100 times.

Exposed for 3 months at EPA to Action Level of 4 pCi/L.

20

IEMA

Relative Penetrating Power

Alpha

Beta

Gamma

PaperConcrete

21

IEMA

Abbreviated Uranium-238 Decay Series

Uranium decays to Radium and then to Radon.

Uranium and Radium as solids are trapped in soil, but radon gas can move.

The decay rate is expressed by “half life”.

Uranium-238 (solid)4.47 billion years

Radium-226 (solid)1,620 years

Radon-222 (gas)3.8 days

22

IEMA

The Meaning of Half Life

Half Life is the time required for half of the atoms to decay.

It is not the time for all of the atoms to decay.

100

50

2512.5

6.25 3.1250

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 1 2 3 4 5

Number of Half Lives

Perc

ent R

emai

ning

23

IEMA

Radon Action Level

The USEPA set an action level for indoor radon concentration of 4.0 picocuries of radon per liter of air (pCi/L).

USEPA selected 4.0 pCi/L because of the technological and economical bases.

Risk at 4.0 pCi/L about seven (7) people out of a thousand could get lung cancer.*

*A Citizen’s Guide to Radon (2005).

IEMA

Fate of Indoor Radon

Plated Out Non-Breathable Non-Measurable

Airborne Breathable Measurable

Radon-222 Radon DecayProducts

25

IEMA

Radon Decay Product Characteristics

Source of cell damage in lungs through release of alpha and beta particles (radiation)

Short-lived decay products most significant

Have static charges

Chemically reactive

Solid particles

Heavy Metals 26

IEMA

Radon Exposure

Radon and Radon Decay Products (RDPs) are breathed in and the Radon is exhaled.

Because they are solid particles, RDPs remain in lung tissue and are trapped in the bronchial epithelium and emit alpha particles which strike individual lung cells and may cause physical and/or chemical damage to DNA.

27

IEMA

More Radon Details!

Radon is classified as a Noble Gas.

Radon’s crystal structure is cubic.

Radon has a half-life of 3.8 days.

Radon is the heaviest known gas.

Radon is characterized as a radioactive air pollutant.

IEMA

Radon is found everywhere

Every county in Illinois has had a high radon test

36% of the homes according to the Status Report for Radon in Illinois are above the USEPA Action Level.

IEMA

IEMA

AverageIndoorRadon

Concentrationby

County

IEMA

IEMA

Winnebago County Radon testing results by Zip Codes

IEMA

Winnebago County Percentage of Radon testing above 4.0 pCi/L

IEMA

How did radon originate in Illinois?

Glaciers from Canada deposited uranium in the soil.

Radon results from the uranium deposits.

Radon Entry

Radon enters through any opening between the building and the soil.

uranium

radium

radon

IEMA

Pressure Differentials and Radon Entry

Air pressure differentials between the building and outside air causes radon from the soil to be drawn into the house resulting in elevated indoor radon levels.

IEMA

Common Entry Points

Foundation Wall Joint

Crawlspace

Sump Pits

Cracks in Floors

Utility Penetrations

IEMA

Initial screening

IEMA recommends first testing with a short term test.

The definition for a short term test is less than 90 days, but the average short term test lasts between 2-7 days.

IEMA

IEMA

IEMA

IEMA

IEMA

Who can test?

The occupant of a dwelling may test their own home. Test kits are available from hardware and department stores or directly from laboratories listed on the IEMA website www.radon.illinois.gov.

If hiring someone to measure radon levels, the individual must be licensed by the IEMA’s Radon Program.

IEMA

Illinois Radon Policy

Testing is recommended throughout Illinois.

Mitigation, reducing the radon problem, is recommended when radon concentrations are 4.0 pCi/L or more.

IEMA

Test the Footprint

Footprint means each foundation type in direct contact with soil or other material.

Short-term or long-term measurements shall be made in each lowest structural area suitable for occupancy. For example, a split-level building with a basement, a slab-on-grade room and a room over crawlspace shall have measurements made in each of the foundation types: the basement, a slab-on-grade room and a room over the crawlspace.

IEMA

Detector Placement is Crucial

Place in an area where the detector will not be disturbed.

At least 3 feet from doors or windows to the outside. Out of the direct flow of air from a ventilation duct. At least 1 foot from exterior walls. 20 inches to 6 feet from the floor. At least 4 inches away from other objects horizontally or

vertically above the detector. At least 4 feet from heat, fireplaces and furnaces, out of

direct sunlight, etc.

IEMA

Rooms to Test

Measurements shall be made in rooms that can be regularly occupied by individuals, such as family rooms, living rooms, dens, playrooms and bedrooms.

IEMA

If Tests Are Above 4.0 pCi/L

IEMA provides a list of Professional Radon Mitigators trained to reduce radon levels.

Professional Radon Mitigators and Technicians must meet specific requirements to obtain a license with IEMA.

IEMA

Mitigation Systems Reduce Radon by:

Collecting radon prior to its entry into the building and discharging it above the highest eave.

Modifying building pressure differentials.

IEMA

IEMA

Winnebago County number of Radon Mitigations systems

IEMA

IEMA

IEMA

Opportunities for student

Radon Poster Contest

Radon Video Contest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S8vr27plZs

IEMA

IEMA http://www.illinois.gov/iema/NRS/Radon/Pages/default.aspx

IEMA

Websites

www.radon.illinois.gov http.takeactiononradon.illinois.edu.

IEMA

Questions

Patrick Daniels – (217) [email protected]

Melinda Lewis – (217) [email protected]

Fax Number – (217) 524-1254

IEMA

Winnebago County Health Department Sheila Jascemskas – (815) 720-4125

[email protected]

Fax Number – (815) 720-4203